Bus services will operate to ensure race fans can get around safely

VISITORS and locals who plan to enjoy a drink over the Mount Panorama race weekend are being reminded that special bus routes will be operating.

Bathurst Buslines has a number of services operating to ensure race fans get around the city and back and forth to the Mountain safely.

The services are operating from Thursday to Sunday.

The 771 service will take people from areas in town, including the railway station, RSL and Panthers, up to Mount Panorama and back, while the 772 will go from Kelso, Tent City and the Bathurst CBD to the Mountain and return.

The 773, meanwhile, will go from motels and other locations, including Vietnam Veterans Park, to the Mountain and back.

The 775 Skyline Night Shuttle, operating on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night, will go from Mount Panorama to the Bathurst CBD and return.

Bathurst Buslines will also operate continual shuttle services from Harris Park at the bottom of the Mountain to Reid Park at the top of the Mountain each day.

In the lead-up to the race weekend, police said highway patrol would be targeting drink drivers, drug-affected drivers and speeding drivers over the period of the event.

“We’ve rostered on all available police. People can expect to see high visibility policing wherever they go,” acting Superintendent Luke Rankin said.

He said the majority of people visiting for the Bathurst 1000 would be in the city to have fun and watch the action on the Mount, but warned that police would be ready for every eventuality.

Plenty of race fans are expected to come down from the Mountain when the Saturday Street Fair is held at Kings Parade.